Dartmouth panel weighs three for Voc-Tech committee seat
School Committee · Meeting of August 14, 2026
Dartmouth appointing panel interviews three finalists for its Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech School Committee seat, decision expected next week. Select Board Chair Heidi Brooks, School Committee representative Christopher Oliver and Town Moderator Melissa Haskell questioned retired vocational-school teacher Rick Avila, retired materials scientist John Bush and semi-retired attorney Thomas R. Hunt for the seat long held by Mike Shea.
No vote was taken; two other applicants, Dan Saucier and a candidate identified only as Pamela, did not attend. Oliver briefed candidates on the district's "Voke After Dark" program, which lets lottery-rejected students take evening shop classes and is expanding to Fairhaven this year and to Dartmouth High School in 2027-2028. Avila said, "That school gave me everything I own in life today," while Hunt pledged to "hit the ground listening."
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 1,935 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of August 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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